Col. S.M. Bowman and Lt.-Col. R.B. Irwin. Sherman and His Campaigns: A Military Biography. New York and Cincinnati: Charles B. Richardson and C.F. Vent & Co., 1865. 8vo. Original cloth. First edition. Sabin 7096. W.T. Sherman bookplate and P.T. Sherman bookplate to interior front board.

Interior cover inscribed: "Gen Shermans attention is [illeg.] called to the corrections and remarks on the pages here noted: 110, 112, 114, 133, 140, 160, 161, 163, 170, 184." Front free endpaper inscribed: "This copy partially corrected by A. Hickenlooper late Bvt. Brig Genl. + Asst. Insp. Genl. 17th Corps and L. E. Yorke late Bvt. Brig. Genl. + Asst. Genl. 15th Corps.”

A rare copy of “Sherman and His Campaigns: A Military Biography” annotated by General Sherman, Brevet Brigadier General Andrew Hickenlooper (1837-1904), and Brevet Brigadier General Louis Eugene Yorke (1832-1873). This collaborative effort seems to have been an attempt to correct details included in the book, perhaps for a revised edition. York and Hickenlooper both sign their notes (often with just the initial of their last name). Sherman’s notes do not appear signed, but are made in his distinctive hand. There are numerous annotations made by the three men. In one instance, on page 140, Yorke wrote regarding the Battle of Missionary Ridge: ”There was a Gorge immediately over the Tunnel I take it the chief objective was at this time the commanding hill directly north of the Tunnel. -Y". Sherman responded below: "The hill which was cornered by the Enemy worked immediately on the Tunnel but was nearer us."

Notably, Yorke wrote on the contents page of the book "The most grave error of the book is one of omission, viz. that there is no portrait of Gen. McPherson in it. Y." General McPherson had served on the general staff of Henry Halleck and later Ulysses S. Grant, present with him at the Battle of Shiloh. He commanded the right wing of Sherman's army in the Atlanta Campaign but was killed in action during the Battle of Atlanta. McPherson was the second highest-ranking Union officer to be killed in action during the war and Sherman openly wept when he learned of his death.

Both Generals Hickenlooper and Yorke served extensively with General Sherman throughout the Civil War. They would have been intimately familiar with most of his campaigns and well placed to correct oversights made by the author.

An important, unique piece and fascinating research opportunity.


Condition: wear to hinges and spine cap is detached.

PROVENANCE:

The Sherman-Fitch Library

Primarily assembled by General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), the collection of books was inherited and curated by his son, Philemon Tecumseh Sherman (1867-1941). Before his death, Philemon transferred the library to his niece, Eleanor Sherman Fitch (1876-1959). Eleanor was the granddaughter of General Sherman through his eldest daughter, Maria "Minnie" Ewing Sherman Fitch (1851-1913). Until now, the Sherman-Fitch library was held at the family estate in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

The library includes a range of diverse material owned by General Sherman that principally relates to the Civil War, American history, and the Sherman family. Many works in the Sherman-Fitch library are historically significant, including General Sherman's annotated copy of Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs, the Sherman family bible, and Barnard's "Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign."

Most examples in the collection are affixed with bookplates that bear both General Sherman's and Philemon's names. In some cases, where General Sherman's ownership was clear, his bookplate was not always affixed. However, books with just Philemon's bookplate were generally acquired after his father's death in 1891. General Sherman’s bookplates were likely added by Philemon after his father’s death. Philemon’s bookplates were placed by Tecumseh Sherman Fitch (1908-1969) after he inherited the library in 1942.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Books, Ephemera, Manuscripts, Documents, Ephemera]